Fluorescent fixture having swingable members carrying the lamps



March 13, 1951 MARGOLIS 2,544,708

FLUORESCENT FIXTURE HAVING SWINGABLE MEMBERS CARRYING THE LAMPS 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed 001;. 8, 1946 lira "iliiiiiiiiiiaiiiinfig E! h .v.

Louis March 13, 1951 MARGQLIS FLUORESCENT FIXTURE HAVING SWINGABLE MEMBERS CARRYING THE LAMPS 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed Oct. 8, 1946 R J fft'li'iltlff.

Patented Mar. 13, 1951 FLUORESCENT FIXTURE HAVING SW IN G- ABLE MEMBERS CARRYING THE LAMPS Louis Margolis, Washington, D. C. Application ctober8, 1946, Serial No. 701,926-

3 Claims.

This invention relatesto electrical fixtures and more particularly to an improved fluorescent lighting fixture.

It is an object of this invention to provide an improved fluorescent lightfixture or a fixture for lighting having elongated tubular lamps therein wherein the fixture isso constructed and arranged that the lamps may be fully enclosed in the fixture in its closedposition, and the lamps may be readily reached in the openposition of the fixture.

Another object of thisinvention is to provide an improved fixture for fluorescent lights, having a closure for enclosing the lamps, the bulbs being secured to the closure in such a manner that as the closures are moved to the open position, the lamps willbe movedout of the housing to a position where they may be readily reached for removal or installation.

Still another object of this'invention is to provide an improved fixture for .fluorescent lamps having louvres or reflectors rockably mounted therein for reflecting and directing the reflected light in a selected direction.

A further object .of this invention is to provide a fluorescent lighting fixture so constructed and arranged that the lamps therein are completely housed but may be moved out of the housing to a readily accessible position upon opening the closures of the housing.

A still further object of this invention is to provide a fluorescent lamp fixture having adjustable louvres for directingthe lightrays emanating from the fixture at the will of a user in order to provide a maximum amount of light with a minimum of glare at any specified point relative to the fixture.

With the above and other objects in view, my invention consists in the arrangement, combination and details of construction disclosed in the drawings and specification, and then more particularly pointed out in-theappended claims.

In .the drawings, v

Figure 1 is a transverse section taken through a fixture constructed according to an embodiment of my invention,

Figure 2 is a longitudinal section taken on the line 22 of Figure 1,

Figure 3 is a bottom plan view of the locking handle, taken on the line 3-3 of Figure 2,

Figure 4 is a fragmentary section taken on the line 44 of Figure 1,

Figure 5 is a fragmentary transverse section of a modified fixture embodying principles of my invention.

Referring to the drawings, the numeral ll) designates generally a fluorescent lighting fixture having an elongated top or cover II which extends throughout the length of the fixture and a depending end wall 12 at each end thereof. The end wallsare formed with'lower arcuate corners and an inwardly extending flange M which extendsabout the outer edge. A reflector plate I5 is secured to the lower side of the top Wall ll, along its length, and extends downwardly toward its transverse median for reflecting light outwardly and downwardly through the sides of the fixture l0.

A curved or arcuate transparent wall I6; of glass. or other suitable material is supported between the corners of the opposite end walls [2 to provide the lower edges of the fixtureand a space I! between the upper edge of the longitudinal glass walls It and the top edge of the fixture II].

.A plurality of longitudinally extending louvres l8 are pivotally mounted in the space I! for deflecting and directing reflected light from the fixture. The louvres I 8 are pivotally connected to the end walls [2 by pins l9 fixed on the side edges or ends of the louvre near the outer longitudinal edge thereof, and the pins 1 9 are rockably supported by a plate 28 fixed to the side walls I2 and spaced inwardly therefrom in alignment with the flanges It. The louvres it are pivotally secured near their inner longitudinal edges at each end thereof in parallel relation one to the other, to a movable plate 2| by pivot pins 22. The plate 2| is formed of a flat piece of material having a flange 24 on the outer side for spacing the plate 21 from the wall l2, and a second flange 25 at right angles to the flange 24 and plate 2|, to provide an ear for stopping or adjusting the vertical position of theplate 2| and the angle of the louvres IS. The plate 2| and weight of the louvres l8 behind the pivot points it constantly urges the rear or inner edges of the louvre s .l- 8 downwardly to a-clo-sed position as indicated at the left in Figure 1. The louvres may be opened, that is the inner edges thereof raised, by a knurled adjusting screw 26. The adjusting screw 26 is threadably engaged through a bracket 21 fixed to the wall I2, and the upper edge of the screw 26 engages the lower side of the stop 25 whereby the inner edges of the louvres 18 are raised by threading the screws 26 upwardly through the bracket 21.

The space between the corners It is closed by a pair of oppositely disposed hinged doors or frames 28. Each of the doors 28 extends the length of the fixture l and halfway across the width thereof. The doors 28 are formed with a pair of upstanding end walls 29 pivotally connected to the end walls E2 of the fixture. The end walls 29 are substantially triangular in shape, having a vertical outer edge and a horizontal lower edge, and a lamp holder or socket 30, adapted for receiving one end of the elongated lamp 3! is fixed to the upper corner of the wall 29. The wall 29 is pivotally secured to the flange [4 by a bracket 32 fixed on the fiange and a bolt 34 passing through the bracket 32 and the lower outer corner of the wall 29. The end walls 29 of each door 28 are connected by vertically disposed fiat louvres 35. The louvres 35 in each door 28 are disposed at right angles throughout the length of the door 28 to other louvres 35 to form an egg crate relation thereof, the door 28 being open through the louvres.

The lamps 3! are supported between the sockets 30 of one door 28 whereby the lamps are moved downwardly and outwardly of the fixture l0 upon opening the doors 28 to their fullest extent, the doors opening an angular distance greater than ninety degrees so the lamps may be moved downwardly out of the fixture. In order to move the door more than ninety degrees and yet maintain a close connection between the closed door and the sides of the fixture, the end walls 29 and the transverse louvres 35 are notched, as at 33, to clear the edge of the corners IS in the open position of the door.

For latching the doors 29 in their closed position, there is provided a pivot member 40 intermediate the length of the door 28 near the inner edge thereof. The pivot member 40 is rotatably supported in a bearing 4| which in turn is fixed on a bracket 42 fixed to one of the longitudinal louvres 35. A rock lever 44 is fixed to the upper end of the pivot member 40 and extends outwardly therefrom on opposite sides. Elongated locking rods 45 are loosely secured to the ends of the lever 44 and extend in opposite directions therefrom along the inner edge of the doors 28. The rod 45 extends through openings 46 in the fixed louvres 35 of the fixture l0 and overlies the flanges H in the locked position for holding the doors 28 in their closed position.

A downwardly extending rectangular lug 50 is formed on the lower side of the pivot member 40 which is adapted to be engaged by a slotted cap or key 45 on a pole 46 which may be used for unlocking and opening the doors 28 when the fixture I0 is elevated or otherwise located in a position beyond the normal reach of an operator.

As a modification of the fixture [0, in Figure there is shown a series of longitudinally extending vertical louvres 5| which may be used to replace the transparent corners it as described above.

I do not mean to confine myself to the exact details of construction herein disclosed, but claim all variations falling within the purview of the appended claims.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim is- 1. A fluorescent lighting fixture comprising a body having a top section, a reflector having spaced angular portions spaced apart by a horizontal portion spaced and positioned downwardly from the top section, side wall sections dependent from the top having oppositely spaced free edges spaced downwardly from the reflector, fixed end walls secured to the top section and side walls having free edge areas spaced between said side walls, swingingly mounted frames positioned between the spaced walls of the body having opposite ends pivotally carried by the end walls for movement downwardly from a closed position to an open position dependent from said end walls and substantially below the spaced edges of said body, said frames having opposed upwardly extended ends spaced from the reflector, lamp socket means carried by the ends of said frames, and fluorescent lamps adjacent said angular portions of the reflector insertable into the sockets or removable respectively from the sockets with the frames swung below the side walls and retaining means for locking the frames in a closed position.

2. A lighting fixture comprising a body having a top section, fixed end walls secured to the top section, said fixed end walls being secured to the top section with free edge areas spaced downwardly from said top section, swingingly mounted frames positioned between the end walls having opposite ends pivotally carried by said end walls for movement from a closed position to an open position dependent from said end walls, said frames having opposed unstanding ends, lamp socket means carried by said frame ends, and lamps insertable into the sockets or removable respectively. therefrom with said frames swung to an open position with retaining means for locking the frames in a closed position.

3. A lighting fixture as claimed in claim 2 in which the frames are notched adjacent the pivots thereof for movement of said frames through an angular distance greater than degrees.

LOUIS MARGOLIS.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS the 

